Offset Shielding Members for Uniform Wet-Chemical Workpiece Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for wet-chemical treatment of planar workpieces fail to achieve uniform surface treatment at the leading and trailing edges, leading to uneven material deposition or removal, and require spacing between workpieces to prevent electrochemical treatment non-uniformity.
Innovation Solution
The device features offset longitudinal axes of its members with respect to the plane, allowing for close succession of workpieces with a shielding effect that prevents excessive liquid flow and electric field interference, ensuring uniform treatment by positioning clamping devices to grip workpieces at edges and using interconnecting parts for conveyor attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If workpieces are placed in close succession for treatment, then productivity increases, but surface treatment uniformity at leading and trailing edges deteriorates due to excessive liquid flow and electric field interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shielding members (first and second members with longitudinal axes) as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent workpieces. These shielding members act as mediators that block excessive liquid flow and electric field interference from reaching the leading and trailing edges of workpieces, thereby maintaining surface treatment uniformity while allowing workpieces to be placed in close succession for improved productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding members are positioned with their longitudinal axes offset from the plane of the workpiece in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane. This three-dimensional arrangement creates effective shielding without interfering with the planar treatment process, allowing close workpiece spacing while maintaining treatment uniformity at edges
2Manufacturing precision
If spacing is maintained between workpieces to ensure uniform treatment, then surface treatment uniformity is preserved, but productivity decreases due to reduced workpiece density in the bath
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding members serve as intermediary structures that enable workpieces to be positioned closer together by actively blocking the harmful effects (liquid flow and electric field) that would otherwise require large spacing to mitigate. This allows high workpiece density while maintaining treatment uniformity
3Device complexity
If conventional frame structures are used with members in the plane of the workpiece, then structural simplicity is maintained, but treatment uniformity deteriorates due to liquid flow through gaps and electric field interference at workpiece edges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the shielding members from the plane of the workpiece to positions with longitudinal axes offset in opposite directions perpendicular to the plane. This dimensional change creates effective shielding against liquid flow and electric field interference without adding complex in-plane structures, maintaining relative structural simplicity while improving treatment uniformity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables uniform surface treatment across both sides of workpieces by minimizing liquid flow and electric field impact near edges, allowing for closer workpiece placement without compromising treatment uniformity, thus enhancing processing efficiency and reducing material waste.
Implementation Method 1
allowing for close succession of workpieces with a shielding effect that prevents excessive liquid flow and electric field interference
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A system for conveying planar workpieces (4;32) through a bath of an apparatus for wet-chemical treatment of the workpieces (4;32) comprises a plurality of workpiece holding devices (1;29). Each workpiece holding device (1;29) comprises at least one clamping device (2,3;30,31) for holding the workpiece (4;32) in a plane and a structure surrounding on at least three sides, seen perpendicular to the plane and in the absence of the workpiece, a region (8) of the plane. The structure comprises a first member (9;34) and a second member (10;35), arranged on first and second sides of the region (8) and having respective longitudinal axes extending in a first direction (z) parallel to the plane. The system further comprises a conveyor for transporting the workpiece holding devices (1;29) in a second direction (x) parallel to the plane and transverse to the first direction (z). The longitudinal axis of a leading one of the first and second members (9,10;34,35) of a first of the workpiece holding devices (1;29), seen in the second direction (x), and the longitudinal axis of a trailing one of the first and second members (9,10) of a next one of the workpiece holding device (1;29) in the second direction (x) are offset with respect to the respective planes of these workpiece holding devices (1;29) in opposite directions perpendicular to the planes such that the leading member (9,10;34,35) of the first workpiece holding device (1;29) and the trailing member (9,10) of the next workpiece holding device (1;29) at least partially face each other